In honor of our alumni who have fallen

while serving in the armed forces of our nation.

A gift from the Alumni Association to the University, we are proud to honor UConn alumni who have died while serving our country. "The Ultimate Sacrifice" Memorial was dedicated as part of the University-wide Veterans Day ceremony on November 10, 2008. Click here to read an article about the dedication ceremony. This project was led by Myles Martel '65, a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

The memorial is constructed of brick, limestone and marble, and features a patio and handcrafted "eternal flame". The marble headstone is drawn from the same quarry used for Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The headstone is a replica of that used at Arlington National Cemetery.

Construction of the memorial began in June 2008, and was completed September 2008.

Masonry and Labor donated by:
Bruce W. Dexter II, Inc.
Danielson, CT

Lighting and Installation donated by:
Paquette Electric Co.
Pomfret, CT

"Eternal Flame" created by:
Stephen Bradway
Rio Grande, NJ

View Flickr Gallery

How it Began

Myles Martel '65

"While visiting UConn in June of 2007, I noticed that the flags on the Great Lawn were at half mast. Soon after I learned the reason: another UConn alumnus had been killed in Iraq. That experience lead to the Alumni Association's decision to support my proposal for this memorial. As a result, several dedicated people and organizations within and outside the University community have generously given their time, talent and financial support to create this memorial. Our vision is for the memorial to be a respectful and lasting tribute to all our alumni who have made and will make 'The Ultimate Sacrifice'."

Veterans Memorial Fund

A special fund has been established to maintain the memorial, as well as support a research project to maintain an official list of all UConn alumni who have died in war.

If you would like to make a contribution, please send it to:

The University of Connecticut Foundation
ATTN: Veteran's Memorial Fund
2390 Alumni Drive, Unit 3206
Storrs, CT 06269-3206

Roll of Honor

On June 6, during Alumni Weekend, the Alumni Association dedicated a Roll of Honor that memorializes alumni who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. The Roll of Honor, which includes the names of 131 fallen alumni, was prepared in conjunction with the "Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial" which stands near the Wilbur Cross Building on the University's Storrs campus. Betsy Pittman, University archivist and interim director of the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, coordinated research to identify and verify the names of those UConn alumni who died of wounds or injuries sustained while serving in the armed forces of the United States.

Involvement by the U.S. military dates from the mid-1950s when advisors were first deployed to the Southeast Asian country of South Vietnam, and into the period from 1964 following the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to the end of hostilities in the mid-1970s.

Anyone who may have information about UConn alumni who died during the Vietnam War, or any other war or military engagement in the United States was involved, is encouraged to send the information to Betsy Pittman at Betsy.Pittman@uconn.edu or Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, 405 Babbidge Road - Unit 1205, Storrs, CT 06269-1205.